Pogo sticks takes an extreme leap into the future

The sport of extreme pogo has been gaining popularity in recent years, and this week, Pittsburgh plays host to an organization dedicated to helping it grow even more.

XPogo Films, an independent film production company that creates and distributes films showcasing the sport, is shooting their next short in Braddock with the world’s top seven Xpogo athletes.

“I was really taken by the spirit of the town,” said chief executive Nick Ryan, who studied at Carnegie Mellon University.

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“I love the character of the town. There are a lot of parallels between the town and what we’re doing — trying to command an audience and convince them the thing we’re doing is viable for growth.”

Xpogo serves as the global governing body for the sport, managing multiple brands, talent, content, retail, online platforms and international events. They have shot short films around the world, including in Rio de Janiero, Hong Kong, New York, Rome and London. You can view them on the Xpogo website.

The athletes don’t use your average Toys ‘R Us pogo sticks. They perform on next generation versions, with enhanced durability and upgrades that let them fly as high as 10 feet in the air.

Perched atop these advanced pogos, athletes flip and twist, sometimes kicking off buildings or riding the side of the stick down a railing. It’s all about the adrenaline rush, says Dalton Smith, 16, an Xpogo athlete from Franklin, Tenn.

“You always want to land new tricks,” Smith says. “It can be dangerous, but you try to take precautions. It is an extreme sport, so it gets kind of crazy.”

Smith practices at least two hours a day and says the group comes up with new tricks at least once a week. Many have signature moves — Smith’s is the “slingshot flip,” when he jumps backward, does a front flip and lands facing forward.